TAMPA — He can be inconsistent, but lefty Boone Logan is an essential piece of the Yankees’ bullpen.

After appearing in 80 games last year and having a history of dead-arm issues in spring training, the Yankees brought the lefty along slowly during the first three weeks of camp. He hasn’t appeared in a game yet.

When he will isn’t known after his left elbow was stuffed into the “Carl Pavano Memorial MRI Tube’’ yesterday.

“Booney was doing good and his elbow came up a little tender and that’s why he didn’t throw BP the other day,’’ manager Joe Girardi said Saturday. “His MRI came up clean so we will probably rest him for a few days. He said his arm feels great, but there is a little spot [in back of the elbow] so we shut him down for a little bit.’’

* Chris Stewart hasn’t caught more games in a season than the 67 he did for the 2011 Giants.

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old has his sights on doubling that total by winning the competition with Francisco Cervelli to replace Russell Martin.

“I want to be in there 162 games,’’ said Stewart, who hit a two-run homer in yesterday’s 10-3 win over the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “I want to play every single day, not like a platoon. But at the same time I will take what I can get.’’

With the Yankees likely looking for one catcher to start 60 percent of the time and the other 40 percent, they aren’t planning on asking Cervelli or Stewart to catch the 120 games a true No. 1 catcher does.

Girardi said the better defensive catcher will get more playing time. Under their plan, that means somebody will catch 97 games and the other 65.

Cervelli’s career high in games started came in 2010 when he started 81 for the Yankees.

* A Yankees scout was on hand as former Bomber Chien Ming-Wang threw six shutout innings to lead Taiwan to a 4-1 victory over Australia early Saturday in the first game of this year’s World Baseball Classic. Wang’s fastball was clocked at 88-92 mph, but he didn’t have much of a curveball.

* With the medication and pool-work part of his rehab program complete, Phil Hughes will play catch today. Hughes estimates if he pitches in a game by March 14, he will have enough time to be ready for the first week of the season.

“It’s all go right now at 4 o’clock,’’ Girardi said. “I don’t know how far he is [throwing]. I just know he is playing catch.’’

* CC Sabathia throws a bullpen session today. Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte work in simulated games. … Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira left the Yankees yesterday to join their respective WBC teams. Cano is playing for the Dominican Republic and Teixeira for Team USA. … Melky Mesa has decided not to play for the Dominican team and concentrate on winning an outfield spot. … The Yankees assigned right-handed pitchers Corey Black, Matt Daley, Nick Goody, Shane Greene, Bryan Mitchell, Zach Nuding, Mike O’Brien and Ryan Pope. Also sent out was infielder Kyle Roller.